Wind-screen for motor road vehicles



Se t. 14, 1937. w. WHARTON 2,093,179

WIND SCREEN FOR MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed July 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l WM mam Sept. 14, 1937. w. WHARTON 2,093,179

WIND SCREEN FOR MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES Filed July 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIND-SCREEN FOE MOTOR ROAD VEHICLES William Wharton, Kendal, England Application July 1, 1935, Serial No. 29,222 In Great Britain September 4, 1934 3 Claims. (01. 29684) This invention relates to wind-screens for movature, though inclined, as otherwise bright lights tor road vehicles and it has for its object to from approaching vehicles are duplicated by a eliminate or reduce reflections and the like therereflection first from the inner and then the outer on caused by glaring head-lamps on vehicles, surface of the screen, giving a fainter displaced sun rays, lights in the streets from lamps or shop image. windows or other sources of illumination, and Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figto this end it is proposed to form the screen of ure 3, I is an angularly disposed wind-screen a flat or curved, or, partly flat and partly curved, hinged at 2 to the forward edge of the body 3; 4 sheet of transparent material, said sheet being is the scuttle and 5 a region of light absorbing straight in horizontal section but set at an angle surface formed on or secured to the scuttle 4 to 10 to the normal line of vision whereby the refiecthe rear of the lower edge of the screen; 6 inditions from external and/or internal sources of cates the eye of the driver and l the direction of illumination are deflected from the eyes of the the normal line of vision; 8 is a beam of light driver, it being arranged that the only direction entering through the back of the vehicle or from from which the screen can receive light adapted within said vehicle, which beam strikes the 15 to be directed by reflection to the eyes of the screen I and is reflected as at 9 onto the surface driver shall be afrom a region or surface of light 5 where it is absorbed. Normally if the surface absorbing material. 5 was of a reflecting nature the beam would be In the accompanying drawings which illustrate reflected along the dotted line it to the screen I some embodiments of this invention:--- and thence along the line II to the eye 6 of the Q0 Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the driver. application of. the invention to a saloon body of Figures 4 to 8 illustrate screens having a differa motor road vehicle; ent section in a vertical plane and the minimum Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the depth of light absorbing surface 5 required to application of the invention to an open or tourprevent any light either from the interior or ex- 25 ing body, and, terior falling on the screen being transmitted to Figures 3 to 8 are vertical sections diagramthe eye.

matically illustrating various embodiments of In Figure 4 the lower portion of the screen I this invention. is curved with the convex side towards the driver,

Broadly stated according to this invention a the upper portion is curved with the concave side 0 region of light absorbing material, such as a strip t w rds the driver and the central portion, of black velvet or a part having a black matt through which the normal lineof-vision 1 passes, surface is arranged below the normal area of is fiat, and the region of light absorbing matevision and to the rear of and adjacent the lower rial 5 is flat and disposed at a small angle to the edge of the wind-screen which is so shaped that horizontal.

all rays reaching the eyes of the driver from the In Figure 5 both the upper and lower portions screen by reflection must emanate from the region of the screen I hinged at 2 are curved with the of light absorbing material, or in other words the concave side towards the driver and the central g n f light absorbing material is t y portion l is approximately flat and the region of object visible to the driver by reflection from light absorbing material 5 may be fl t or curved 40 the wind-screen. To secure this with the miniupwardly as shown mum area of light absorbing surface the section Figure 6 the screen I is composed of two 2 ig i i' g g fi g zfi figqgg g 22g" portions l and l; the lower portion I is fiat and 10a w1 oc1 1 d ing surface respectively, but other considerations hmged at along its ower e ge and the upper 5 portion I is curved with the concave side tofl er n i gd i s s h g e s a dgi s3152 2332? 2231:2 Wards the driver and is hinged at l3 along its larger area of light absorbing surfa upper edge. An additional light absorbing sur- The screen, according t this invention is face [4 is formed on a sheet of any su1table matestraight in horizontal section and disposed at an rial hinged at t0 the upper edge of the p t 50 angle to the vertical with the lower edge forward lb of the screen so that said surface I4 y b adof the upper edge; the screen may be curved in justed to such a position that when viewed from a vertical plane, but to obtain the best results a the drivers eye 6 the edge only is visible. small portion of the screen at the level of the In Figure '7 the screen is composed of two 5 drivers eyes should preferably be free from ourflat portions I and i the lower portion I being 2' hinged at l2 along its lower edge and the upper portion I' at l3 along its upper edge.

In Figure 8 the screen I is flat and is hinged at l6 along its upper edge; in this case the light absorbing surface 5 has to be somewhat wider from front to back.

The direction lines ll-l8 in Figures 4 to 8 are intended to indicate that any beams of light falling on the screen or screens from whatever source they may be derived, must necessarily be reflected downwardly onto the light absorbing surface. or

surfaces by which they are absorbed and cannot therefore be transmitted to the eye.

It will be obvious that the detrimental effect of beams of light entering the vehicle through the front of the screen is minimized by reason of the fact that the light beams from objects in the interior of the vehicle, illuminated by said entering beams, are directed onto the screen and reflected therefrom to the light absorbing surface.

A screen of the type herein described will be particularly useful in dissipating reflections caused by the lights of following or overtaking vehicles entering through the rear window and also lights within the vehicle itself.

What I claim is:-

1. A wind-screen for motor road vehicles comprising in combination a sheet of transparent material mounted in the vehicle at an angle to and adjustable relatively to the normal line of vision, a second sheet of transparent material located above said first named sheet and mounted at an angle to and adjustable relatively to said line of vision, a region of light absorbing material located to the rear of and adjacent the lower edge of said first named sheet and a second region of light absorbing material located to the rear of and adjacent the lower edge of and adjustable relatively to said second named sheet, onto which first and second named regions of light absorbing materials, reflections from said first and second named sheets respectively from surrounding sources of illumination are deflected from said line of vision.

2. A windscreen for motor road vehicles comprising in combination a sheet of transparent material straight in horizontal and vertical section mounted in the vehicle at an angle to and adjustable relatively to the normal line of vision, a second sheet of transparent material straight in horizontal and curved in vertical section located above said first named sheet and mounted at an angle to and adjustable relatively to said line of vision, a region of light absorbing mate rial located to the rear of an adjacent the lower edge of said first named sheet and a second region of light absorbing material located to the rear of and adjacent the lower edge of and adjustable relatively to said second named sheet, onto which first and second named regions of light absorbing materials, reflections from said first and second named sheets, respectively, from surrounding sources of illumination are deflected from said line of vision.

3. In a windscreen for motor road vehicles of the streamline type, the combination of a sheet of transparent material mounted in the vehicle 1' at an angle to the normal line of vision with the lower edge of said material extending forwardly of the vehicle beyond the upper edge of the material and pivoted at its upper edge to the forward portion of the body of the vehicle, and a 

